By Steve Keating
PARIS (Reuters) – The French basketball team announced their arrival in Paris with a rip-roaring 82-73 win over Canada on Tuesday, riding a wave of national pride into the Olympic men’s semi-finals while the U.S. turned on the style to stay on track for a fifth straight gold.
The U.S. rolled to a 122-87 win over Brazil without ever needing to go all out, but still served up just enough razzle dazzle to keep the capacity crowd buzzing in an effort that was as much about entertainment as sport.
The routine victory sets up an intriguing final four meeting with Serbia, who advanced with an overtime win over Australia.
The contest will be a rematch of the 2016 Rio Games gold medal final and will feature LeBron James, a four-time NBA most valuable player leading the U.S., against the reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
France will face Germany in Thursday’s other semi-final.
“We understand we’re seizing opportunity,” said James. “The only game that’s guaranteed is the next one now.
“That’s the only thing we focus on and focus on Serbia,” he said, adding: “The main goal is, and the only main goal is, for us to win gold. That’s all I care about.”
The U.S. and Brazil meeting generated none of the electricity that filled the Bercy Arena hours earlier, when France and Canada engaged in an entertaining up tempo, physical contest that had the building rocking from tip-off to buzzer.
All last week the arena had been home for the gymnastics competition, but not even Simone Biles was able to thrill the packed house the way Victor Wembanyama and his teammates did.
Feeding off the energy crackling through a seething Bercy, France gave the home crowd what they came to see, storming to a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes they would never relinquish, each basket triggering a thundering roar that rocked the arena to its foundation.
Having repelled a Canadian fight back, the rafters rattled again with 90 seconds left on the clock as the packed arena broke out in a rousing flag-waving rendition of “La Marseillaise”.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to make sure we play on the last day of the Olympics,” said France guard Evan Fournier. “Make sure we give ourselves a chance to win a medal and hopefully it’s going be for the right one.”
Earlier, Jokic proved again why he may be the best player in the world, leading Serbia to a nail-biting 95-90 overtime win over Australia to reach the last four for the second time in three Games.
It was an uphill battle from the start for Serbia, who dug themselves out of a 24-point, first half hole to reach the brink of a regulation victory only to watch Patty Mill hit a desperation fade away jumper with 1.4 seconds to play to force the extra session.
With just over a minute to go in overtime and Serbia trailing 90-89 Jokic came to his country’s rescue, scoring two clutch baskets to deliver the dagger and a 93-90 lead.
Bogdan Bogdanovic made the final two free throws to seal the victory.
In other quarter-final action, Franz Wagner hit for 18 points as World Cup champion Germany overcame a sleepy start to ease past Greece 76-63.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Paris; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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